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I feel ashamed that as a nation we are so ungrateful. We don’t have any culture to honour our heroes. We don’t bother even to thank people who made supreme sacrifice and contribution for the betterment of our nation. Did anybody of this country pay a little homage to Gorge Harrison? How does a freedom fighter feels when we Bangladeshis electing and chant slogans for razaakars?
   Now I cannot control my emotion and anger hearing what happened with Valerie Taylor who sacrificed so much to enlighten the lot of unfortunate people. After dedicating her life for the poor disabled; we taint her like that! I don’t know why the so-called civil society is making such cold response. Where is the media? Why are they keeping so quite?
   Kabir
   DU
   

The Bangladesh Environment Network, a global network of pro-environment Bangladeshis, is alarmed by recent news reports on the possibility of approval of open-pit coal mining projects submitted by multi-national companies to mine the coal mainly for export in exchange for a very small amount of royalty. It is reported that various vested interest groups are actively lobbying to persuade the government to approve the pending open-pit coal mining project in Phulbari and in other coal fields of the country.
   BEN is dismayed to learn that the revised Coal Policy of 2006, awaiting approval of the government, was allegedly developed by a private organisation and is geared towards advocacy of an export-oriented coal mining. BEN Energy Panel recommends that the government reject this Coal Policy, and rather entrust a national organisation (such as BUET) to produce a draft, which should then be submitted to open public discussion before adoption. BEN thinks that the coal policy should be a part of the integrated national energy strategy that encompasses all different energy types and keeps the country’s future domestic demand in view.
   BEN recognises that coal can potentially be an important part of Bangladesh’s overall energy plan. However, according to BEN Energy Panel of internationally recognised experts, the proposed coal policy reveals a general lack of appreciation and understanding of the adverse effects of coal exploitation in general and of open-pit mining in particular. In its report the Panel cites examples of the serious devastation open-pit mining has caused in many parts of the world, including the US, requiring expensive remediation. However, such remediation often does not restore the land and communities affected to an acceptable state many decades after the mines ceases to operate. The panel notes that no country in the world carries out open-pit coal mining in areas as densely populated as Bangladesh. The panel in its report notes the following key dangers of open-pit mining in Bangladesh:
   1. Dislocation of large numbers of people (in the order of 100,000) from several square kilometres area in a densely populated country with limited land,
   2. Elimination of use of rich agricultural land,
   3. Desertification,
   4. Generation of acid mine drainage and chemical waste streams that destroys ecosystems in surface water and soils, and pollute rivers and fishing grounds irreparably, and
   5. Open-pit mining in Phulbari could result in a net, large negative economic impact, despite access to the coal as an energy source.
   Thus, BEN recommends the following to the government:
   1. Carefully consider the decision to mine coal on a massive scale, especially by the open-pit technique. Such a decision should be based on a thorough independent analysis, without influence of lobbyists.
   2. Undertake a clearly defined cost/benefit analysis on open-pit mining taking into account environmental, water, land-use, agricultural, population displacement and human cost issues, and the cost of the mitigation that will be required.
   3. Investigate alternative and cleaner coal utilisation technologies, such as coal gasification, etc., to exploit the country’s coal reserves, instead of pursuing such harmful options as open-pit mining.
   4. Strengthen the almost non-existent legal, regulatory and enforcement frameworks in the country with appropriate laws, regulations and institutions to mitigate the adverse impact of any coal utilisation activity.
   5. Any coal mining should be only to meet domestic needs and only after the above issues have been addressed.
   6. Further develop the natural gas sector that would provide the country with a breathing room to assess advanced coal technologies and install renewable energy sources.
   BEN urges the government to develop a pro-people coal policy in the context of an overall energy strategy for the country. BEN offers to partner with the government in developing such a strategy.
   Bangladesh Environment Network
   On e-mail

I am shocked to read yet another news item (May 26) in the Naya Diganta that a young man was killed in the waterfalls of Madhabkunda in Sylhet.
   Not so long ago, there was another incident in which several BUET students died in the same waterfall. In fact, they were carried away by the turbulent water stream into ditches or gorges.
   Nobody should be allowed to approach very close to the waterfalls, which may lead to slip or fall into the running stream. In this case the authority may be the local civil administration or the police, or the tourism authority. If the top officials take an initiative to find the possible causes of the incidents and take remedial measures, such sad incidents would not take place.
   Sirajur Rahman
   Manager, Environment & Risk Karnaphuli Fertilizer Co. Ltd, Chittagong

When General Moeen had come to the limelight on the day of declaration of emergency, we visualised him as a gentleman General. Some people say ‘do not trust anyone.’ But again some people like us say ‘you will have to trust man even if you get cheated again and again. God does not give us anything by his own hands. Anything he gives us, gives through human hands.’ General Moeen has every potential to be remembered as a patriot son of the soil, provided he does not
   deviate from the course he is following now.
   MH Khan
   On e-mail